BUILDING CULTURAL CITIZENSHIP THROUGH SOCIAL CAPITAL

Abstract

The increasing complexity of global social challenges has highlighted the need for citizenship education that integrates local wisdom with global competencies. However, limited studies have examined how indigenous communities transform social capital into cultural citizenship and how these practices contribute to Global Citizenship Education and Social Studies Education. This study aims to develop a local wisdom-based framework by exploring the relationship between social capital and cultural citizenship within the Mahmud Indigenous Community in West Java, Indonesia. A qualitative case study approach was employed. Data were collected through participant observation, in-depth interviews with customary leaders, community members, and document analysis. The data were analyzed using an interactive qualitative analysis model involving data condensation, data display, and conclusion drawing. The findings reveal that the community's social capital is sustained through trust, collective norms, reciprocal relationships, customary leadership, and active participation. These elements foster cultural citizenship manifested in cultural identity preservation, collective responsibility, social solidarity, environmental stewardship, and intergenerational transmission of local values. The study proposes a Local Wisdom-Based Cultural Citizenship Framework, demonstrating that social capital provides the foundation for developing culturally grounded citizenship competencies aligned with the principles of Global Citizenship Education. The framework also offers a contextual model for strengthening Social Studies Education by integrating indigenous knowledge, character education, and community-based learning into citizenship education. This study contributes to indigenous education by positioning local wisdom as a strategic resource for cultivating globally responsible citizens while preserving cultural identity in the digital era.